A trench excavation must be inspected by a competent person under which circumstances?

• A. On a Daily Basis
• B. As Soil Conditions Change
• C. Prior to the Entrance of Workers
• D. Any of These

Answer: (D)

A competent person must inspect a trench whenever there’s potential for hazards that could affect stability or worker safety. This means performing the inspection before anyone enters, any time soil or site conditions change (such as after rain, flooding, or nearby vibrations), and on a daily basis to catch ongoing or developing hazards. Each of these situations can alter trench conditions—water accumulation, soil movement, or a weakened protective system—so the inspection is required under all of them. Because inspections must occur whenever conditions could change safety, “any of these” is the correct guidance.